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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Tyres and dental floss prove winning combination
Annalisa Wikitoria McConachie (second left) wears the 2025 MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards "Award of Excellence" winning garment, flanked by designers Vicki Taylor-Blair (left) and Chris Reeve. Awards emcee Antonia Prebble is also pictured. PHOTO: ELLA SCOTT-FLEMING A garment made from the inner tubes of bicycle tyres and dental floss won the top prize at this year's MLT Hokonui Fashion Design Awards. Dunedin duo Vicki Taylor-Blair and Chris Reeve won the "Mataura Licensing Trust Award of Excellence" award in Gore on Saturday night for their design. The hours of hard work and inventive ideas of Southland designers and makers were also recognised. Hairdresser Ms Taylor-Blair won the same prize in 2018 alongside other accolades in the competition in the 12 years she has been involved. "I don't come to win, I just come for the challenge," she said. "I just love to see my work coming down the catwalk." She said the skirt was made with the woven tyre tubes. Then underneath was a frame. To sew the heavy structure to straps she had to use dental floss for its strength. The pair have entered the competition together as well as individually in previous years. Mrs Reeve said they usually get together once a week, until the competition deadline looms closer. "Just on Sundays mostly and, as the time gets closer, we get busier," Mrs Reeve said. Mrs Reeve works as a fabric technology teacher at Queen's High School and said her students had watched the garment come to life. "[They] have been watching this whole thing grow," she said. After some nerves over how the dress would show on the runway, Mrs Reeve was happy enough to win the Avant Garde Award earlier in the evening. "I thought, this is the best night of my life," she said. When she and Ms Taylor-Blair won the final, $16,500 prize package, tears were shed. "I was definitely crying," she said. Another winner on the night was Viv Tamblyn from Gore who won the "Peroni Open Gala Award" for her purple quilted puffer creation. It was Ms Tamblyn's 18th year competing. She had won a section every year bar one, she said. Ms Tamblyn usually has three looks in the competition, but this year it was "only" two. She said she took two months off after the competition before starting again. Her second look, an all-red pin-tucked garment, took her at least six months, she said. Another Gore local Debbie Smith won the "Heather Paterson QSM Memorial Trophy - Best Southland Designer Award" for her gown with horned headpiece. The evening was emceed by Outrageous Fortune actress Antonia Prebble, who took time to honour the awards' volunteer organisers, convener Jacqui McKinney and ambassador, Huffer founder Steve Dunstan.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Local wine lists score awards for excellence
Opinion A trio of Winnipeg restaurants were recognized by Wine Spectator magazine for excellence when it comes to wine lists. Every year, the magazine honours some of the world's best wine lists with the Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards. Restaurants submit their lists, with the best recognized in one of three ascending categories: Award of Excellence, Best of Award of Excellence and Grand Award. In 2025 there were 2,010 winners in the first category, 1,704 in the second category and just 97 who received the magazine's Grand Award. The three Winnipeg restaurants that made the 2025 list: The Blue Marble at the The Grand Winnipeg Airport Hotel (1979 Wellington Ave.) was awarded an Award of Excellence for the second year; 529 Wellington (529 Wellington Cres.) was once again given a Best of Award of Excellence (which it has received every year since 2003); and Vida Cucina Italia (222 Broadway), the Fort Garry Hotel's high-end eatery, was a new recipient this year, also earning the Best of Award of Excellence. Vida's Italian-centric list was spearheaded by sommelier/wine director Christopher Sprague, who moved to the Fort Garry Hotel in 2021 after building the impressive list at 529 Wellington over many years. For the complete list of Wine Spectator Restaurant Awards, see FREE PRESS FILES Fort Garry Hotel sommelier/wine director Christopher Sprague FREE PRESS FILES Fort Garry Hotel sommelier/wine director Christopher Sprague Sookram's Brewing Co. (479 Warsaw Ave.) and Low Life Barrel House (398 Daly St.) have teamed up on a new brew, which is being celebrated today from noon-6 p.m. at both breweries with live music, food for purchase, games and hourly specials, along with a free trolley running between the two breweries every 10-15 minutes between 2 and 6 p.m. Dubbed Better Together, the event will see the release of the Better Together pale ale at both breweries. Also on the new (or new-ish) brew front, Blumstein Brewing Co.'s beers are now available in Winnipeg — specifically at the Quality Inn Craft Beer Market (633 Pembina Hwy.). The Pembina Valley brewery's four beers — the Beeren Pflucker saskatoon pale ale, Brommtopp Braun honey brown ale, Frintshauft Zintzung session IPA and Zumma Dach Mexican cream ale with cactus — have been available in the Morden/Winkler area for a few months now. And in Winnipeg, Good Neighbour Brewing Co. (100 Sherbrook St.) has unveiled the four furry friends chosen to adorn cans of the Pet Pals pilsner. The brewery encouraged people to send in pictures of their pets for consideration along with an entry fee, which went towards the Winnipeg Humane Society as part of the fundraising collaboration for the second year running. The beer comes in four-packs and stars Ava the pug, 20-year-old good boy Squid, Doogie the toothless tabby and Bernoulli, a Coton de Tulear, each on their own can. So far, $66,000 has been raised for the Winnipeg Humane Society, with five per cent of proceeds from the four packs (which are available at Liquor Marts, beer vendors and the brewery) earmarked for the humane society going forward. Beer and wine lovers, grab your calendars — you have some decisions to make about events coming up in mid-August. The eighth annual Winnipeg Beer Festival returns to Fort Gibraltar (866 Rue St. Joseph) on Sunday, Aug. 10, and will feature most Manitoba craft brewers pouring core and new brews. There are two sampling sessions (5-7 p.m. and 7:30-9:30 p.m.); tickets for each of the sessions are $50 plus fees and include all samples. Food is available for purchase, as are many of the sampled beers. Tickets and more information available online. On the wine front, the Manitoba chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) is throwing a party at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre (281 Donald St.) featuring a summer favourite — pink wines. Rosé the Night Away takes place Monday, Aug. 18 from 7-9 p.m. featuring rosé wines from all corners of the world. Tickets are $42 for CAPS Manitoba members and $55 for non-members. uncorked@ @bensigurdson Antigal 2023 Uno Rosé (Mendoza, Argentina — $19.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) The grapes in this pink wine are a 'winemaker's secret,' according to the winery website; it's likely some combination of Malbec and Bonarda with other odds and ends. The wine is medium pink in colour and aromatically offers fresh watermelon and peach as well as ripe strawberry and melon notes. It's mainly dry, medium-bodied and slightly viscous, with ripe stone fruit, strawberry and peach candy flavours coming with a tart cherry component, modest acidity and, at 13.4 per cent alcohol, a medium-length finish. 3.5/5 Jean-Claude Mas 2024 Jardin de Roses Grand Rosé (Languedoc, France — $22.99, Liquor Marts and beyond) Coming in a lovely, ornate clear bottle, this southern French rosé is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grapes. It's pale pink in colour and aromatically offers fresh, leafy raspberry and strawberry notes alongside pear and floral components. Dry, light-plus bodied and slightly viscous, there's decent depth of flavour here, particularly the strawberry and raspberry flavours, with hints of peach and watermelon, almost a hint of sweetness and modest acidity before the quick finish (it's 12.5 per cent alcohol). 4/5 Tasca d'Almerita 2023 Regaleali Le Rose (Sicily, Italy — around $23, private wine stores) Deep pink in colour, this Sicilian rosé is made from the Nerello Mascalese grape, a variety somewhat like Pinot Noir that's native to the Italian island. Aromatically the Regaleali offers compelling raspberry, orange peel, chalk, strawberry candy and melon rind notes. It's a bigger style of rosé, bone dry and medium bodied and bringing fresh cherry and raspberry flavours along with hints of plum and an underlying chalkiness that adds complexity. Delicious stuff. Available at The Pourium, Kenaston Wine Market and The Winehouse. 4.5/5 Ben SigurdsonLiterary editor, drinks writer Ben Sigurdson is the Free Press's literary editor and drinks writer. He graduated with a master of arts degree in English from the University of Manitoba in 2005, the same year he began writing Uncorked, the weekly Free Press drinks column. He joined the Free Press full time in 2013 as a copy editor before being appointed literary editor in 2014. Read more about Ben. In addition to providing opinions and analysis on wine and drinks, Ben oversees a team of freelance book reviewers and produces content for the arts and life section, all of which is reviewed by the Free Press's editing team before being posted online or published in print. It's part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Business Wire
22-07-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Bluebird Branding Earns 2025 NSPRA Award of Excellence for Ranum Innovation Campus Branding
DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bluebird Branding, a Colorado-based branding agency, is proud to announce it has been awarded the 2025 Award of Excellence in Branding/Image Package by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) for its creative brand work on the Iver C. Ranum Innovation Campus in Westminster Public Schools. The Award of Excellence is NSPRA's highest honor in its annual Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards, which recognize outstanding education-related print and digital communications. Bluebird Branding's work on the Innovation Campus stood out in the Branding/Image Materials category, reflecting the agency's ability to craft powerful, future-focused identities for educational institutions. Founded by CEO Marcus Fitzgibbons, Bluebird Branding partnered with Westminster Public Schools to bring to life the innovative spirit of the Ranum Innovation Campus. The project delivered a bold, aspirational brand aligned with the campus's mission of preparing students for career and college pathways through hands-on, real-world learning. "We're deeply proud to see our collaboration with Westminster Public Schools and the Iver C. Ranum Innovation Campus recognized at this level," said Marcus Fitzgibbons, CEO and Founder of Bluebird Branding. "We were honored to work with the team on this project to elevate their branding. Our goal is to help organizations express who they are - and in this case, to inspire students, their families, and the broader community with a brand that matches the incredible work happening on campus." Ryan McCoy, formerly Executive Director of Westminster Public Schools and now Chief of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships, reflected on the project's impact: 'Westminster Public Schools is proud to celebrate our partnership with Bluebird Branding, whose innovative design work and storytelling helped bring the Iver C. Ranum Innovation Campus to life. Their creativity, commitment to our community, and deep respect for our history resulted in a brand that inspires students and families while signaling exciting investments in our multigenerational, industry-aligned campus.' NSPRA's awards honor creativity, impact, and collaboration, with the Award of Excellence representing the highest level of achievement. For more information, visit About Bluebird Branding Bluebird Branding is Denver's premier branding agency specializing in brand strategy, design, and activation. With a knowledgeable and collaborative approach, Bluebird helps organizations stand out, inspire their audiences, and foster deep connections.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Hans India
Terrorist killed in Udhampur last month was topmost JeM commander: J&K DGP
Jammu: J&K DGP, Nalin Prabhat, said on Wednesday that the terrorist killed last month in Udhampur district was the topmost commander of the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) outfit. The DGP spoke to reporters during his visit to the Akhnoor police station in Jammu district. He felicitated the personnel for receiving the prestigious 'Award of Excellence' from the Ministry of Home Affairs in the annual ranking of police stations in J-K for 2024. Handing over the award to the police station, the DGP hailed the officers and men posted at the police station for their rapport with the public and said the successful operation in the Akhnoor sector early this year was the result of timely input received from the public. While asking the present SHO and the SDPO to keep up the legacy, the police chief lauded the exceptional performance of the then SHO, Tariq Ahmed, SDPO, Mohan Sharma and SP, Brijesh Sharma, for their outstanding leadership and dedication in 2024. Nalin Prabhat told reporters that the security forces are continuing their operations against the terrorists. 'The anti-terror operations are taking place continuously, and recently, we got a very big success in Dudu-Basantgarh, where a senior and topmost JeM commander, who was active in that area for the last four years, was killed. 'The operations are taking place and all the terrorists will be eliminated one by one,' the police chief said. On June 26, JeM terrorist Haider, code-named Maulvi, from Pakistan, was killed in a gunfight while three of his associates managed to escape, taking advantage of inclement weather, challenging topography and dense forest in the Basantgarh area. 'Police cannot be successful without the support of the public. The public support makes all difficult tasks easy, otherwise there will be challenges,' he said, lauding the Jammu police for their outstanding performance against the drug menace, bovine smuggling and gangsters.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Got very big success': Terrorist killed in Udhampur was top JeM commander, J&K police reveals; vows to continue crackdown
Representative Image NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir 's DGP Nalin Prabhat on Wednesday announced that the terrorist killed in the Dudu-Basantgarh forest encounter in Udhampur was a prominent JeM commander from Pakistan who had operated in the region for four years. He emphasised the ongoing anti-terror operations and acknowledged the crucial role of public support in the success, PTI reported. Speaking to reporters at Akhnoor police station, the police chief said, "The anti-terror operations are taking place continuously, and recently, we got a very big success in Dudu-Basantgarh, where a senior and top JeM commander, who was active in that area for the last four years, was killed. The operations are taking place and all the terrorists will be eliminated one by one." On June 26, Pakistani terrorist Haider, also known as Maulvi, was killed in combat, whilst three associates escaped due to poor weather conditions and the challenging terrain of Basantgarh's dense forest. The DGP refrained from disclosing the precise count of active terrorists in Jammu's forest regions, stating such information was not for public disclosure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it Undo Accompanied by IG CRPF Gopal Sharma, IG Police Bhim Sen Tuti, and DIG Shiv Kumar, the DGP visited Akhnoor police station to present the Ministry of home affairs' 'Award of Excellence' for outstanding performance in J-K's 2024 police station rankings. During the award ceremony, the DGP praised the station's personnel for their community engagement. He cited a successful operation in Akhnoor earlier this year as evidence of effective public cooperation. He stressed that public support is essential for police success, making challenging tasks manageable. The DGP commended Jammu police's efforts against drug trafficking, bovine smuggling and organised crime. The DGP recognised former SHO Tariq Ahmed, SDPO Mohan Sharma, and SP Brijesh Sharma for their exemplary leadership in 2024, whilst encouraging current SHO Sanjeev Chib and SDPO Varinder Gupta to maintain these high standards.
